The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1887-10-27
Executed Nfty.Two Men


There is probably but one man il
the world who has been the Chef
actor In the execution Of fifty-twc
men. and that is George B. Malidor
of Fort Smith, Ark, who has pre-.
pared the ropes aud attended TO the
preliminary arrangements for the
hanging Of the numerous criminals
who have met their fate here, fifty
two in all.
The fret man I ever had any
thing to do WITH, said he, was John
Childers, who was Executed Aug 10
1872. A singular incident of this
execution was that when Childers
was taken from the Jail to the gall
low the sun was shining beautifully
While the ceremonies on the gallows
were being held storm came up,
and just as the trap was sprung the
keenest flash Of lightning ever saw
rent the air, accompanied by tre-
tnendous clap Of thunder. BY the
lime the body was cut down the
storm had spent it's fury, and the sun
was again shining brightly
Chatting on his general experience
he continue Indians are less
trouble than whites end seldom give
their keepers any annoyance. They
walk out to the gallows without a
murmur, seldom make any talk, and
the job is soon over. John Billy, a
full-blooden Choctaw, who was hube
| think. the same year that John
Childers was, displayed more feeling
than any Indian I ever saw, and was
so troublesome that il became neces.
sary TO chain him to post in room
over the court house. He would
beg me to shoot him every time
went about him. He died game.
though, aud was defiant and stoical
Two other Indians were hung at the
same time that Billy was.
Six was the largest.nu ever
banged at one time, aud they we're,
with one exception, fine looking,
young men-William Moore, Dan
Evans, Sam Foov, William Willing
ton, whites; Smaker y aakiller, Cher
okee, and Edward Ca'nllbsll, a negro
hnV t.I, - s.ss-y-r
saw &c on mad. lie glanced over the
Immense crowd surrounding the gal
lows defiantly, and when asked IL he
had anything to say, remarked that
there were worse men than he stand
ing around looking on. A striking
contrast to Moore, however, was Sam
Fooy, whose mother, wife and chill
dren were near at hand, and who was
well acquainted with many who had
come to see him hanged. During the
ceremonies on the gallows he stood
facing the crowd, with a pleasant
smile on his face, nodding his head
frequently as his eye caught that of
some friend. When asked IL he desir
edto say any thing, he glanced around
and said In a pleasant tone Of voice
i am as anxious to have this thing
over with as those who have assem-
bled to see it, and therefore will not
delay matters. Farewell to all
There would have been seven to hang
this time, but Ed. Butler, negro at
tempted to escape after receiving sen.
tence and was killed by his guard.
There have been five hanged at one
time on two different occasions since
this execution.
1.-THE incest man l over pulled n
black cap over was DR.. Henry Stew
art, who was hung in 1879. l think for
the murder OF DIR. Jones, at Caddo,
Choctaw Nation. He was a gentle.
man ia appearance, and well educat-
ed. He displayed extraordinary nerve
all the way through, asking no spec
ial favors and complaining of nothing.
On the gallows he had little to gay,
and was much less nervous than those
who surrounded him. Bill Elliott,
known as Colorado BILL was hung
with him, and also displayed great
courage, saying he had killed his man
in self defense, and II he was to do
over again he would do the same thing
As | was adjusting the ropes Elliott
said; For Gods sake. boys, break
our necks don't punish u.s."